CIC calls for increased awareness on RTI Act

Kochi, Apr 18 (UNI) Poor implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act has not been due to resistance from officials concerned, but lack of awareness among them, Kerala Chief Information Commissioner Palat Mohandas said today.

The RTI Act is a very powerful legislation. But it is underutilised partly because officials dismiss it as just another government rule. But people do not have adequate knowledge of the uses it can serve, he said while releasing a handbook on the Act here.

More than 80 per cent of the cases the State Information Commission receives relate to administrative matters and about problems getting work done at various departments. This is not the mandate of the Commission at all.

''The Commission is only a second appeal. We act in cases of denial of information, which is a grievous offence. The nature of the complaints we get show that people need to be more aware of this law,'' Mr Mohandas said.

The Commission would suggest to the government that if required, Benches should be established at different locations across the state for improving implemenation of the Act.

The RTI act is binding on the legislature, executive and the judiciary and superceded all previous restrictive orders, he said.

UNI LR VV LS HT1725